Obituaries

Stockton

Keith Heidenreich, 81

It is with great sadness that I announce that my dad, Keith Heidenreich, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020 in Apache Junction, AZ which he chose as his second home.

Born December 23, 1938, he grew up in Stockton, IL, graduated high school in Stockton, married in Stockton twice, farmed, owned Keith’s Main Tap, raised his children to have them graduate from the same town he had, served as a Volunteer Mounted Patrol Deputy Sheriff in Jo Daviess County, IL in which he and his team would conduct searches and police business where vehicles could not. He was a long standing member of the Masons and Eastern Star organizations and was a man of trades, but he always perked up when farming was the topic of discussion and always had immovable opinions on crop rotation, contour ploughing, and International Harvester vs. John Deere.

He mustered into the US Army on January 8, 1956 and mustered out on March 19, 1958. Trained in technical military intelligence, spending most of his time stationed in Hawaii assigned to the US Army Security Agency (Precursor to NSA-National Security Agency). On October 4, 1957, he along with other technical intelligence specialists in the ASA around the globe, was instructed to monitor and listen for radar signals high in the sky. Keith was able to hone in on a signal that kept fading in and out and that signal turned out to be the first artificial Earth satellite launched into space, Sputnik. Long story short, Keith was one of the first people on Earth to listen to a live satellite orbiting Earth.

Of his many occupations, he was a farmer, a business owner, a truck driver, and a warehouse foreman. As a business owner in Stockton, he overhauled an average bar and turned it into Keith’s Main Tap, a restaurant and bar that was family friendly which became the focal point for card clubs, movie nights, free music, summer BBQ’s, and a social gathering place after high school basketball and football games. His passions in life were the Chicago Bears (always gloating about the ’85 SB team), Chicago Cubs (elated beyond expression with their 2016 WS Championship), traveling the United States, and his dogs Fella and Decon. In retirement, Arizona was his choice since he came to appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape and it’s climate.

Keith leaves behind his sons Randy and Tony Heidenreich, grandson Will Heidenreich, step-son, Rick Reuter, three daughters-in-law (MaryAnn Heidenreich, Abigale Heidenreich, and Heather Reuter), and his first wife, Jan Lamont. Preceding Keith was his wife, Patricia Heidenreich, and a granddaughter, Cara Heidenreich. Keith will be laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA.

Clara E. Endress, 96

Clara E. Endress, age 96 of Stockton, IL passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020 at Lena Nursing Home.

She was born November 23, 1923 in Pleasant Valley to the late Arthur and Louisa (Streicher) Tipton. Clara married Myron Endress on February 16, 1946 in Freeport. Myron passed away on March 28, 1972.

Clara was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Stockton. She retired from Atwoods in 1985. She enjoyed visiting and sharing stories. She also adored her cats.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Florence Wickler; and her brothers, Harry, Carson, Earl, and infant Clyde.

A private family graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Ladies Union Cemetery in Stockton. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Pearl City

Nicole Marie Jerry, 34

Nicole Marie Jerry, age 34, of Pearl City, IL passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020 in Freeport. Nicole was born in Freeport on July 9, 1985 to Frank and Deborah (Neumen) Wool.

She was a 2003 graduate of Pearl City High School and went on to attend Nursing School. She was a good cook. Nicole loved her two children, Jakari and Jayvion Wool.

She is survived by her father, Frank Wool of Pearl City; her two children, Jakari and Jayvion Wool of Pearl City; her brother, Cody (Amy Pierce) Wool of Freeport; her niece, Ashton Wool, and several aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her mother, Deborah Wool; her maternal grandparents, Arlene and Richard Neuman Sr .; and her paternal grandparents, Eileen and Salvador Wool.

Private family services will be held. Interment will take place at Highland Cemetery in Pearl City. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Apple River

Eileen J. Delker, 93

Eileen J. (Butler) Delker, age 93, passed away Friday, April 10, 2020.

She was born on August 12, 1926 to Clayton and Edna Butler of Nora, Illinois. She attended Nora schools, with a brief time in South Wayne schools. She married Clyde Curtin on February 2, 1951 and they had one child, Patricia, before he passed away in January 1953. She married Norman McGloin on October 3, 1954 and the family lived in Nora for many years until Norman died in August 1965.

In 1967, she met Robert Delker, a native of South Dakota and an independent long haul truck driver. Robert was persistent in wooing Eileen and they were married on December 2, 1967. The family continued to live in Nora. Eileen and Robert worked together in the trucking business; Eileen would join her husband on cross country trips. They were active in independent truckers’ organizations and met many new friends at conventions and get-togethers. Robert passed away unexpectedly in February 1989. After his death, Eileen moved to Apple River, Illinois.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husbands, parents, a brother (Francis Butler) and a half sister (Dorothy Butler Franklin). She is survived by her daughter.

Eileen enjoyed traveling, particularly with Robert. She was a country music fan, attending many live performances over the years and getting to know many of the performers. She was a great cat lover enjoying the company of many felines over the years with a particular affection for Amos, a Maine Coon. A life-long Chicago Cubs fan, Eileen always delighted in a Cubs win and a promising season.

Eileen will be buried in Ladies Union Cemetery in Stockton, Illinois.

Lanark

Lois L. Hartman, 89

Lois L. Hartman, age 89, of Lanark, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at Allure Nursing Center of Mt. Carroll. A private family funeral service will be held. You may watch from your home on Facebook Live 11:00 am Monday, April 27, 2020, or any time after, by going to the funeral home Facebook page and joining Lois’ group ahead of time. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Friends and family are also invited to share in Lois’ life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Lois was born January 14, 1931, in Savanna, the daughter of Owen and Lucille (Hartman) Moore. She grew up attending Savanna Schools and graduated with the Class of 1949. On November 10, 1951, Lois married Bernard Hartman at the Church of the Brethren Parsonage in Lanark. They raised six children and celebrated 64 years of marriage.

Lois enjoyed being a farmer’s wife. Gardening and canning came natural to her as she worked hard to help provide for the family. She was a good cook, known affectionately as the “Casserole Queen” and for her pot roast-in-a-bag recipe. She was skilled with a sewing machine, knitting needles, and even a switch, if her boys needed it. Her grandchildren kept her busy with games and cards whenever “Grandma” was babysitting.

Lois was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lanark, where she served in WELCA and enjoyed quilting. She enjoyed crossword or jigsaw puzzles, craftwork, painting, and was an avid Cubs fan. Lois treasured time with family, friends, and her church family, and always fondly remembered getting together with her high school classmates, “The Forty-Niners.” She also enjoyed all the people she met while working at Shearers for several years.

Lois will be dearly missed by her four sons, Ronald Hartman and Mike Hartman, both of Milledgeville, Jerry (Sheila) Hartman of Mt. Carroll, and Tom Hartman of Lanark; two daughters, Peggy (Bill) Brown of Milledgeville and Lavonne (Scott) Sturtevant of Lake Carroll; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; two half-sisters, Jayne (Rick) Moore Senkbeil of Myrtle Grove, FL and Susan (Truman) Moore Taylor of Ozark, Alabama; a half-brother, Jason (Cori Eyerly) Moore of Savanna; a sister-in-law, Betty Moore of Savanna, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Lois is preceded in death by her husband Bernard; her stepfather, Raymond “Mac” McFadden; her brother, Jim Moore; and both parents.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Allure Nursing Center for their loving care.